Abstract: A method for printing an image, the method includes the steps of defining a media support surface; advancing a print medium onto the support surface; emitting light from a first side of the print medium toward the defined surface; moving a sensor on a second side of the print medium along a scan direction; monitoring the position of the sensor as it moves along the scan direction; sensing the light on the second side of the print medium which is opposite the first side as the light passes through the print medium to a sensor; providing memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; providing a processor for comparing signals from the sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type; identifying the print medium type; selecting a print mode based on the identified print medium type; processing an image according to the selected print mode; and printing the image on the print medium.

Abstract: A method of detecting an edge of a piece of media in a printer, the method includes providing a carriage for moving a printhead and a photosensor along a carriage scan path; providing a light source; providing a light guiding element having a first end that is aimed at a first predetermined position along a media advance path between a media input region and a printing region and a second end that is aimed at a second predetermined position along the carriage scan path, moving the carriage to an edge-detection position such that the second end of the light guiding element is aimed at the field of view of the photosensor; directing light from the light source toward the first predetermined position; obtaining a signal generated in response to light received in the photosensor; and analyzing the signal to detect the edge of the piece of media.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage configured to move a printhead along a carriage scan path; a photosensor that is mounted on the carriage, the photosensor including a field of view; a light source; and a light guiding element having a first end that is aimed at a first predetermined position along a media advance path, and a second end that is aimed at a second predetermined position along the carriage scan path, wherein the carriage is movable to an edge-detection position such that the second end of the light guiding element is aimed at the field of view of the photosensor.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes (a) a media support defining a surface; (b) an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward a print region proximate the defined surface; (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; (d) a monitor for tracking the position of the carriage; (e) a light source directed toward the defined surface; (f) a light sensing device mounted on the movable carriage; and (g) an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in order to provide substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.

Abstract: A method for providing uniform or substantially uniform illumination to a field of view of a light sensing device that is moving with respect to a light source, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing an inkjet printhead to eject ink for printing; (b) providing a monitor to track the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source; and (c) providing an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in a manner that provides substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a media support defining a surface; an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward the defined surface; a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; a light source directed at the defined surface and positioned on a first side of the defined plane to provide an illuminated portion of the plane extending substantially along the carriage scan direction; a light sensing device mounted on the movable platform on a second side of the defined plane that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the defined plane and to light sensing device; memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; and a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type.

Abstract: A method of detecting an edge of a piece of media in a printer, the method includes providing a carriage for moving a printhead and a photosensor along a carriage scan path; providing a light source; providing a light guiding element having a first end that is aimed at a first predetermined position along a media advance path between a media input region and a printing region and a second end that is aimed at a second predetermined position along the carriage scan path, moving the carriage to an edge-detection position such that the second end of the light guiding element is aimed at the field of view of the photosensor; directing light from the light source toward the first predetermined position; obtaining a signal generated in response to light received in the photosensor; and analyzing the signal to detect the edge of the piece of media.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage configured to move a printhead along a carriage scan path; a photosensor that is mounted on the carriage, the photosensor including a field of view; a light source; and a light guiding element having a first end that is aimed at a first predetermined position along a media advance path, and a second end that is aimed at a second predetermined position along the carriage scan path, wherein the carriage is movable to an edge-detection position such that the second end of the light guiding element is aimed at the field of view of the photosensor.

Abstract: A method for providing uniform or substantially uniform illumination to a field of view of a light sensing device that is moving with respect to a light source, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing an inkjet printhead to eject ink for printing; (b) providing a monitor to track the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source; and (c) providing an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in a manner that provides substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes (a) a media support defining a surface; (b) an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward a print region proximate the defined surface; (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; (d) a monitor for tracking the position of the carriage; (e) a light source directed toward the defined surface; (f) a light sensing device mounted on the movable carriage; and (g) an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in order to provide substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.

Abstract: A method for printing an image, the method includes the steps of defining a media support surface; advancing a print medium onto the support surface; emitting light from a first side of the print medium toward the defined surface; moving a sensor on a second side of the print medium along a scan direction; monitoring the position of the sensor as it moves along the scan direction; sensing the light on the second side of the print medium which is opposite the first side as the light passes through the print medium to a sensor; providing memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; providing a processor for comparing signals from the sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type; identifying the print medium type; selecting a print mode based on the identified print medium type; processing an image according to the selected print mode; and printing the image on the print medium.

Abstract: A method for detecting media type, the method includes the steps of defining a media support surface; advancing a print medium onto the support surface; emitting light from a first light source positioned on a first side on the print medium toward the print medium; moving a sensor on a second side of the print medium along a scan direction; monitoring the position of the sensor as it moves along the scan direction; sensing the light on the second side of the print medium as the light passes through the print medium to the sensor; providing memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; and providing a processor for comparing signals from the sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type of the print medium.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a media support defining a surface; an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward the defined surface; a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; a light source directed at the defined surface and positioned on a first side of the defined plane to provide an illuminated portion of the plane extending substantially along the carriage scan direction; a light sensing device mounted on the movable platform on a second side of the defined plane that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the defined plane and to light sensing device; memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; and a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type.

Abstract: A graphics display system digital vector generator system includes three position vector generators generating position information for each of three different pixel location dimensions and three visual characteristic vector generators operating synchronously with the position vector generators to generate dynamic intensity information for three different dimensions of visual characteristics. Optical processing of visual characteristic vectors includes normalization to generate Phong shading intensity vectors, pattern shape generation, and mixing of hue and intensity information with selectable resolution to obtain a desired visual characteristic pixel data representation.